Immigration Voice - this is the first time that pro-immigration advocates have successfully waged an effective online media campaign, Immigration Voice was pivotal in setting the platform for decisive action. Take-away: leveraging online technology produces results.

Zoe Lofgren - her active leadership was critical in VB Gate reversal. Take-away: show your support by contributing to her next campaign.

Azulay, Horn, & Seiden LLC and AILF - Azulay was the first law firm to file a lawsuit, while AILF stood ready to litigate. Take-away: Litigation is an effective stick and the immigration bar could be more aggressive in future litigation opportunities.

and the following losers:

USCIS, DOS - they have lost credibility and they have alienated their customers for no gain. Take-away: Hopefully, these agencies will seek input from the stakeholders, including immigrant websites, in the future.

Congress - The statutory language on visa allocation is not properly executed by the Executive Branch agencies, leading to fewer approved visas than the statute mandates. Take-away: Congress needs to solve this thru a technical amendment.

Anti-immigration activists - Their conspicuous absence during VB Gate reveals their true allegiance. These activists should have been working side by side to defend legal immigration if their claim to be anti-illegal immigration (but pro-legal immigration) was in fact true. Take-away: The media should not allow them to use "anti-illegal" as a moniker, rather anti-immigrants - legal and illegal - is more apropos.

We welcome readers to share their opinion and ideas with us by writing to editor@ilw.com.

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USCIS Announces VB Gate Reversal
USCIS announced that, beginning immediately, it will accept employment-based applications to adjust status (Form I-485) filed by aliens whose priority dates are current under the July Visa Bulletin, No. 107. USCIS will accept applications filed not later than August 17, 2007.

Help Wanted: Immigration AttorneyPremier Manhattan immigration law firm seeks immigration lawyer with 3+ years experience in
corporate immigration law to handle a full range of advanced immigrant and
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communication and techncial skills to augment a high standard of client
representation. E-mail resume with salary requirements and writing samples
in confidence to: resume@wildesweinberg.com.

Help Wanted: Immigration Paralegal
Philadelphia, PA - Primary responsibility will be management + oversight of the national
green card sponsorship program for the Deloitte U.S. entities. Focus is on technical aspects of managing the program which requires a high level of communication, managing all program changes and their impacts, identification of trends and oversight of case workflow and resources involved in all aspects of the process from start to finish. Day-to-day responsibilities include case review, individual case strategy development, + managing overall internal compliance details including posting and recruitment requirements. Qualifications: specialized knowledge in immigration law and paralegal experience or related (4 -7 yrs. relevant experience); strong project management skills to lead special projects as required by senior mgmt; excellent customer service and communication skills; ability to manage process effectively and efficiently; excellent analytical and organizational skills with attention to detail; ability to communicate effectively with multi-national employees. Send resumes to: cojohnson@deloitte.com.

Help Wanted: Immigration Paralegal
Kent, WA, a Seattle suburb - Hanis Greaney Prothero, PLLC seeks to hire a full-time immigration paralegal. Paralegal will support attorneys with the processing and management of a high volume caseload of all types of immigration petitions. The position requires substantial direct client interaction. Successful candidate must be organized, detail-oriented, with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Applicants should have minimum 2+ years experience as an immigration paralegal and must speak, read, and write Spanish fluently. We provide a collegial atmosphere with high professional standards and offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to cirvine@hgzlaw.com.

Help Wanted: Immigration Paralegals
The Washington, DC and San Francisco offices of Morgan, Lewis
& Bockius, LLP are currently looking for paralegals to work directly with
the Immigration Practice Group. Qualified candidates must be able to work
under minimal supervision. The firm offers an excellent compensation and
benefits package, outstanding work environment, and comprehensive support to
enable our immigration paralegals to assume significant responsibility,
including contact with clients. Qualified candidates must have at least two
years of business immigration experience in employment-based immigrant and
non-immigrant categories. Candidates must possess strong organizational,
research and writing skills. Knowledge of PC applications and flexibility to
work overtime are required. An undergraduate degree from accredited university is required.
EOE. M/F/D/V. Please apply online via the career link of the Morgan Lewis website,
www.morganlewis.com/careers.

Immigration Law Certificate
Master the complex and ever changing maze of immigration policies and regulations with the Immigration Law Studies Certificate Program offered by CUNY's School of Professional Studies. This graduate-level certificate program, consisting of (3) three-credit classes, offers students who complete it a comprehensive understanding of the laws, regulations, and processes surrounding the status of immigrants in the US, including family and employment-based immigration and deportation defense. It is designed for individuals working in law firms, companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations where they interact with immigrants and immigrant legal concerns on a regular basis and would therefore benefit from greater knowledge of the laws and regulations surrounding immigration. Beginning this spring, the program is also being offered online. For more information on class schedules, tuition and fees, course applications and to register, see here.

Readers can share their professional announcements (100-words or fewer at no charge), email: editor@ilw.com. Readers interested in learning about featuring your event or conference in Immigration Daily, see here. To feature your newsletter in Immigration Daily, see here.

Immigration Event
The Office of the CIS Ombudsman (CISOMB) is pleased to invite you to "The Ombudsman's Recommendations to USCIS: Your Questions and Comments". Session 1: Fri, July 20, 1:30 - 2:30 pm. Session 2: Fri, July 20, 3:00 - 4:00 pm. Please join us to share your comments and suggestions, as well as any issues of concern. RSVP to cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov specifying which call and session time you'd like to join. Indicate the city, state from which you are calling. Participants will receive confirmation email. Send your comments in advance to cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov.

Readers are welcome to share their comments, email: editor@ilw.com (300-words or fewer preferred). Many letters to the Editor refer to past correspondence, available in our archives.

Dear Editor:
Richard Baer's letter (07/18/07 ID) asks the question: "Just how does one go about to deport 12,000,000+ undocumented immigrants?" If a country really wants to remove "undocumented immigrants," mass deportations are not needed. A country with a national immigration policy that includes developing realistic foreign worker programs, developing fair family immigration programs and enforcing immigration laws would not need to actually deport all of the persons who entered the country illegally. A country that wants to truly enforce its immigration laws would not grant automatic citizenship to children born to those who enter illegally. The country would conduct workplace audits in industries that traditionally violate immigration laws. Employers that hire those who enter illegally would be fined and jailed. With no jobs or benefits, those who enter illegally would leave in search of more favorable conditions. A country with no national immigration policy, such as the US, usually has a disjointed set of conflicting and confusing immigration laws. Federal enforcement of immigration laws is sporadic and local communities determine immigration policy. Some communities become "sanctuary cities" where law enforcement does not inquire about immigration status and where driver's licenses are provided without regard to immigration status. Other communities try to remove undocumented immigrants by using local law enforcement, hold landlords responsible and verifying immigration status prior to issuing a driver's license. The recently proposed immigration legislation was criticized by all sides of the immigration debate and went down in a flaming defeat. If the US federal government remains neutered and unable to develop and enforce a national immigration policy, should the authority to determine immigration policy be formally delegated to each state or community?
All sides of the immigration debate do agree on one thing: The current system is not working and the recently proposed immigration legislation was a disaster.

Jim Daly, Esq.
Santa Barbara, CA

Dear Editor:
I agree completely with ID's conclusion (07/18/07 ID comment) that the entire immigration system
is in jeopardy. In the 30 years I have been practicing immigration law, I have never seen things so bad. It seems that since 2001 we have been dealing with a lump of filings (the old 245(i) cases) that creeps through the system like a pig through a snake. Well meaning efforts to patch the system merely move the problem from one department to another. Until we have a rational and predictable system of immigration in this country we will continue to attract those people who disdain the law rather than those who observe it. Immigration lawyers may go the way of buggy whip and slide rule manufacturers.

Milton P. Buffington, Esq.
Washington, DC

Dear Editor:
Responding to Richard Baer's letter (07/17/07 ID), " ... What practical alternative has been proposed? Deportation? Just how does one go about to deport 12,000,000+ undocumented immigrants? To put this into perspective ... " One needs to enforce the laws.
(1) millions will return home (2) some employers must be prosecuted (3) anchor babies must not be citizens (4) temporary workers should get temporary work permits. It becomes clear that many business and immigration professionals are feeding on this system.
Competition from illegal immigrant workers (work ethic) are killing economic opportunity for too many Americans from getting a foothold onto the ladder of success.

Peter Griswold

Dear Editor:
The Visa Bulletin which was closed is now open again to all employment based categories. If you play by the rules you get rewarded. If you break the rules like all illegal aliens do you get nothing.

KO

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